Apparatus for the treatment of matte



J. H. HICKEY. APPARATUS FOR THE TREATMENT OF MATTE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 9 I919.

Patented Apr. 18, 1922.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

J. H. HICKEY. APPARATUS FOR THE TREATMENT OF MATTE. A

APPLICATION FILED OCT- 9, 1919.

1&1 3, 1 l 6, Patented pr-18, 1922.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

Du cat on JOHN HFHICKEY, 0F BOZEMAN, MONTANA.

APPARATUS FOR THE TREATMENT OF MATTE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented 18, 1922.

Original application filed October 1, 1918, Serial No. 256,461. Divided and this application filed October 9, 1919. Serial No. 329,482. a

T 0 all whom it may concern:

paratus especially designed for employment in thecarrying out of my process for the treatment of matte from blast furnaces forming the subject matter of my application filed October 1, 1918, Serial No. 256,461, of which this application is a division.

One of the objects of the present invention is to reduce the cost of handling matte now incurred preparatory to its being retreated in the blast furnace.

Another object of the invention is to eliminate or drive off the sulphur content of the matte to such an extent that it will not be necessary to reroast the matte.

A further object of the invention is to reduce the cost of crushing and samplingof the matte.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus designed for the purpose o-f disintegrating the molten matte immediately prior to delivery of the samebetween crushing rolls so that the crushing or granulating operation may be more,read ily and e'ffectually'performed than where the matte is introduced between such rolls in relatively large lumps as in the ordinary processes for treatment of this material.

or example, in the ordinary processes the matte after separation from the slag and cooling is in relatively large masses and heavy and expensive crushing machinery must be employed in order to crush or granulate the same to a size suitable for its future treatment in the blast furnace, whereas by the apparatus of the present invention the molten matte is directed against the rolls by a blast of air which serves not only to chill the molten matte but also to disintegrate the same by breaking up the stream of molten material 1nto relatively small globules or lumps iIl WhlCh form it may be more readily crushed or granulated by the rolls and less ponderous machinery is required to effect its granula tion.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate the apparatus embodying the present invention:

Figure 1 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in longitudinal section illustrating the apparatus in operation;

Fig. 2 is a substantially vertical sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a vertical front to rear sectional I view through the crushing rolls of the apparatus.

The apparatus embodying the present invention consists, generally speaking, of crushing rolls which operate within a closed chamber which collects the sulphur gases or fumes driven off from the matte in the caring a stream of the molten matte into the chamber in front of the rolls, means for delivering a blast of air into the chamber and against the stream of molten matte, and means for collecting the matte after it has passedbetween the rolls and has been reduced to granular form. In the drawings the numeral 1 indicates suitable pillow blocks upon which are mounted pedestals 2 having upper and lower aligned bearings 3 and 4, in which bearings are journaled the shafts for the upper and lower crushing rolls. The said rolls are indicated by the numerals 5 and 6, respectively, and their respective shafts are indicated by thenumerals 7 and 8. The said rolls are cylindrical and it is preferable that the roll 5 be provided at each end with a peripheral flange 9, the said flanges extending .over the opposite ends of the roll 6 whereby to prevent relative displacement of the rolls. In order that the rolls may be maintained at arelatively 'low degree of temperature and to prevent them becoming overheated through the contact therewith of the hot matte delivered between them, each roll is formed interiorly with a circumferentially extending water or air jacket 10, and one head of each roll is formed with a water or air passage 11 opening into the water jacket 10 and communicating with a similar passage 12 formed in the corresponding end of the shaft 7 or 8, as the case may be. The other head of eachrroll is formed with a passage 13 opening into the water jacket and communicating with a similar passage 14 formed in the corresponding end of the respective shaft. A water or air supply pipe,

rying out of the process, means for deliver-' first mentioned ends of the shafts 7 and 8.

The branches of a discharge .or outlet pipe are connected by "suitable couplings 21 and 22 to the other ends of the shafts 7 and 8 respectively, and this pipe 20 leads to any point where the air or water may be conveniently discharged. It will be understood, of course, that there is a constant flow of water or air from the pipe 15 into the water jackets 10 of the two rolls and from these water jackets out through .the pipe 20 so that the rolls are kept at a rela tively low temperature and cannot become overheated. In order that the rolls may be driven, they are geared with a power shaft 23, as clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, and by any desired arrangement of gear mechanism. In the present instance a drive belt 24- is trained over a pulley 25 upon the shaft 23 and over a pulley 26 upon one end of the shaft 7 for the upper roll, and similarly a' crossed belt 27 is trained over apulley'28 upon the drive shaft 23 and over a similar-pulley 29 upon the shaft 8 for the lower roll. In this manner rotary motion is imparted to the rolls;

As before stated, the molten matte is directed or delivered to the rolls by a blast of air which serves not only to chill and disintegrate the stream of molten matte but also to drlve off the sulphur gases or fumes, and in order that these gases may be collect ed and discharged from the vicinity of the rolls and the molten matte, the said rolls-are enclosed within a chamber or housing, indicated in general by the numeral 30. A pipe 31 leads from the top of this chamber 30 and serves to carry off the gases or fumes collected in the said chamber. The chamber is provided with a downwardly inclined top wall section 32 having an opening 33 through which the molten matte may be poured, and arranged within this opening 33 at the forward side thereof is a' baffle plate 34 which is inclined downwardly into the chamber and has its lower edge located opposite. but a suitable pdistanceabove the point of peripheral contact of the ,rolls with each other, the said edge of the plate being,'furthermore, suitably spaced in advance ofthe said rolls. The numeral 35 indicates a compressed air supply main from any suitable source of supply, and the numeral 36 indicates a'blast pipe which leads from the-main and has its discharge end or nozzle 37 extending into the chamber 30 through the forward wall thereof, the discharge end of the, nozzle being located immediately below and slightly in rear of the lower edge of the baffle plate 34. Before proceeding to a description of the carrying out of the process embodying the rollers or sprockets upon shafts 40 and 41 invention, the remainder of the apparatus will be described. The numeral 38 indicates an endless conveyor belt having pan sections 39 thereon, and this belt is trained about and has its upper stretch positioned to travel beneath the open lower end of the casing comprising the chamber 30. Either of the shafts may be driven in any convenient man.- ner and in the present drawings the shaft 40 is driven by a belt 42 from. the power shaft 23. Material conveyed by thepan sections 39 to a point beyond the forward side ofthe chamber 30, is delivered to an inclined conveyor or elevator'43 which as. it is of an' ordinary type, need not be specifically described, and this latter conveyor or elevator is designed to deliver the material into a bin 44 from which it may be conveniently discharged into a railway'car or other receiving agency indicated by the numeral 45.

In order to free the crushing rolls of any particles of matte adhering thereto, scrapers 46 and 47 are provided for coaction with the rolls 5 and Grespectively, as clearly shown in F ig..-3 of the drawings, these scrapers having relatively sharp engaging edges 48 resting in contact with the surfaces of the respective rolls.

In carrying out the process, the molten matte is drawn off from the blast furnace into any suitable receiver or settler where, due todifference in specific gravity, it separates from the slag. From this receiver or separator a suitable quantity'of the molten matte will be drawn off into a pot 49 suspended by any suitable means indicated by i the numeral 50, and the pot will be carried to substantially the position shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings and will then be tilted so as to pour the molten matte in a steady and even stream on to the baflle plate 34. As the stream of molten matte flows over the edge of this plate it will receive the force of the blast of air from the nozzle 37 and the air blast will serve to not only disintegrate the molten vmaterial but also to drive off there from substantially all of the sulphur content. As before stated, the parts are so posi tioned that the air blast striking the stream of molten matte willdisintegrate the stream and blow. the particles toward the rolls and deliver the same between the said rolls where the particles will be crushed and consequently further reduced in size. After passing between the rolls,'the granulated matte will be discharged on to the pan conveyor .38, delivered to the elevator 43, discharged therefrom into the matte bin 44, and finally delivered into the car or other receptacle 45 in which it may be conveyed to the blast furnace for further treatment; Through natural or forced draft, the sulphur fumes driven off from the matte by the blast of air, will be delivered from the chamber 30 through the discharge pipe 31 and may be disposed of as found most desirable.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is: I

1.- In apparatus of the class described, crushing means, means for producing a flow of a stream of molten matte in the general direction of the crushing means, and means for delivering a blast of air against the Howing stream to disintegrate the stream and -impact the particles against the crushing means. a

2. In apparatus of the class described, crushing rolls, means for producing a stream of molten matte flowing in the general dicrushing means, a baflle plate inclined in the general direction of the crushing means and over which-plate a stream of molten matte is to be caused to flow, and means for delivering a blast of air in the direction of the crushing means substantially at the overflow edge of the plate.

I In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

JOHN H. HIGKEY.- [L 8. 

